The Nanaimo NightOwls are entering their fifth season in the WCL. They have announced some key returning players and their 2026 schedule.. (Nanaimo NightOwls)

By Dan Marshall

Dreaming of Summer

NightOwls laying the foundation for 2026 WCL season

Dec 21, 2025 | 5:36 AM

NANAIMO — The NightOwls have their 2026 schedule out and have announced their first group of confirmed returning players.

They’ll begin play with an exhibition game against the VIU Mariners on May 27 with their first WCL regular season games on the road in Ridgefield May 29-31.

The first home series for the NightOwls is Tuesday June 2 to Thursday June 4 against Kelowna at Serauxmen Stadium.

All-Stars Talan Zenk and Jacob Hayes will be back with the NightOwls this summer, as will reliever Jakin Rohne and infielder Ryder Florence.

Head coach Cody Andreychuk is pleased to have those high calibre returnees with more to be announced soon.

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“I’m excited about the guys we have coming back. I think it says a lot about the program and the culture that’s been established through ownership and everyone else who’s been involved throughout the years. We have two all-stars and some other pieces coming back as well.”

Andreychuk believes having veterans familiar with the program will be important especially early in the season.

“It’s going to establish what some guys are capable of doing based off of my knowledge of what they have and their knowledge of who I am. The cohesiveness of the team is going to be a lot better at the start of the year than trying to figure out a bunch of individuals real quick.”

Recruiting is well underway for 2026 and although not announced yet Andreychuk has several athletes committed.

“We’ve got about 20 guys signed so far from various Division 1 programs, and Division 2. We got four guys from the runners up in the national championship game of Division 2 from Central Missouri. We also have four guys coming from a very good school in Western Kentucky in Division 1.”

As far as the schedule is concerned Andreychuk said there are some challenges at the beginning but there will be lots of home games at Serauxmen Stadium in July.

“We head down to Corvallis and that’s a far trip and then we come back on the road that same trip and play in Wenatchee so that will be a difficult part in our schedule. I’m looking forward to the second half schedule where we’re at home quite a bit. There’s not a lot of far trips. That’s a great time to have a bit of an easier travel schedule.”

2026 will be the fifth year for the NightOwls but the 50^th working in baseball for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller.

The now 70-year-old has World Series rings for coaching in the Minnesota and Philadelphia systems and Andreychuk said the amount of athletes Gorm has impacted over the years is very impressive.

“As a coach that’s what you set out to do. He’s helped so many players transform their skills. It shows how special of a human being he his. The knowledge the kids are getting from his life experience is outstanding.”

The NightOwls will be honouring Heimueller in severals ways throughout the season.

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